August 27, 2023 - Classic aged Brunello. Opened one hour before serving and then decanted solely for sediment. In a great spot with several years left to go. Paired perfectly with Sunday dinner of paccheri, meatballs and sausage
July 14, 2022 - This was a part of 1997 and 1999 Tuscan tasting including 3 Brunellos and 2 Super Tuscans, same producers from each year. Very enjoyable wine. This may be the only Brunello where I enjoyed the 1999 more than the 1997. The nose is forward with wild dark cherry and raspberry; Oak still notable but in balance. Very fine ripe tannins provide structure. Decent finish.
July 13, 2021 - I tried a bottle of this two months ago and was less than thrilled - unfortunately, this bottle will not change my opinion. I just had a glass of the '99 Caparzo BdM, and that is much livelier on the palate than this wine, which, like my last note in May, seems ponderous and slightly over the hill. There is even a raisined note on the nose - not quite maderized, but overripe fruit. I am getting towards the end of a case I bought on release, and this is one Brunello that I preferred when it was younger.
May 12, 2021 - I haven't had a bottle of this in a while (last TN was 2018), and I'm not loving this right now. Feels a little heavy/ponderous on the palate for a Sangiovese. Ripe red & black fruit on the nose. I'll have to check out another bottle soon to see if this was just off somehow or if the wine is actually in decline. The cork here was pristine for a 20 year old bottle, so no apparent defect here in that regard.
June 6, 2020 - Ultimately a disappointing Brunello.
Magnum bottle in pristine condition, beautiful cork, decanted about 2 hours before dinner.
The hue was that of a young wine and the wine showed few signs of aging.
However, it largely lacked complexity and balance .
Noticeable heat, oak and overripe fruit. None of the beautiful aromas normally found in mature Brunello from quality producers.
Vintage considerations aside, this wine shows a strong stylistic change from the beautiful 1990 vintage.
This kind of non-descript heat, over-ripeness, low acidity monolithic wine you can find just about anywhere around the World; not worthy of a Brunello designation.
If this is new style, then I will pass.
September 13, 2018 - A darker translucent ruby; earthy red & black fruits on the nose.
Fully mature, decent acidity, nice persistence - very likable right now, so if you have this in the cellar, no hurry, but it's worth checking out.
August 2, 2018 - Ripe, earthy red and black fruit on the nose. A touch of menthol here as well - love the nose here.
Not as impressive on the palate as the bottle I drank last year - good, but seemingly losing a gear as it's gotten older.
May 17, 2017 - second one I had in about a year or so very juicy leathery notes done maturing i think....
February 9, 2017 - If CT is accurate, this is my first bottle in more than a year. Color is a dark translucent ruby; "intoxicating" and mature nose - a lot going on here.
More red-fruited on the palate, seamless, nice persistence - this is drinking now as a mature wine, probably best destined for consumption over the next 3-5 years, although it wouldn't shock me if it still drank well for another decade.
November 24, 2016 - Slight bricking color. Nice fruit still around but overall it's past it's drinking date. It probably was much better a few years back.